Drink Ye All Of It

It’s wintertime. Cold and flu season is underway. It is the time when bundling up, taking your vitamins, and drinking your orange juice is important. And, you know what? I absolutely hate orange juice. Yep… you read right, I despise the taste of the stuff. I love oranges, but orange juice? Not so much. Why should you care? Well, it’s not really necessary that you do, but one tip my dad would always give me when I was sick was, “Get you some orange juice.” Now, I would always express my disdain for it, but he would just repeat it as if to say, “I said what I said.”

Here’s the thing, drinking the juice always helped. Granted, I had to take in 3 to 4 cups before it seemed to make a difference, but it did. Here’s another thing, even though I knew it would help, I still never went for the orange juice on my own. Nope, it wasn’t until my dad told me to drink it, that I actually did. And, the more I drank, the more effective it was.

Do It Anyway

Even as adults, we have things we dislike, even if they actually are for our good. So often, the very thing that we hate or despise, is the thing that will aid us in making it through or to our next phase of life.

For some of us, it may be fasting. Not many people enjoy skipping meals, but there are times when that is what God requires of us. “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29). There may be a few of us that need to listen to that one friend or family member when they say, “you need a vacation.” I think it is easy to forget that our bodies and minds need a break as well. Especially us “strong friends” that can easily slip into workaholism. “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Hebrews 4:9)

We all need a reminder, every now and then, to do what’s best for us. For me, in those times, it was to drink my orange juice. Here are a few things to help when you don’t want to heed that “what’s best” advice:

1. You won’t always be the teacher. There will be times that you must be the advice taker instead of the giver. God will always provide you with what you need, even if He sends someone to help you. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
2. The orange juice could never have the proper effect on me if I didn’t drink it. The instruction or advice you’ve been given cannot work if you don’t follow it. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Matthew 11:15
3. You may need to hold your breath. So, I told you I don’t like orange juice… well, the taste definitely doesn’t help. I’d often find myself holding my breath when I drink it. There will be times when you have to “hold your breath” and suck it up to make it through. We have to become breathless and allow the breath of God to breathe help into our situations. I have learned that I cannot be beyond help, even when I don’t want to accept it. “Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to thy mercy.” Psalms 109:26

It is okay to need that reminder, but it is important to obey the voice. My dad’s orange juice reminder caused my symptoms to ease sooner. In life, that “Go to the doctor” reminder may be what helps you out. No matter what it is, please, do it.